Posted by James Sanders on 12/8/12 11:32pm
Msg #445947

Nations Direct, Did do the right thing?

I am fairly new to the Mobile Notary thing, but this is not my first Rodeo, I registered with abouut 50 companies that I have found both here on NR as well as other locations, I sent them the signing agents 3 times before they had all of my information in their system, they are VERY unorganized, I receive emails from xxx,temp3 . com and I think they go down to the unemployment office and get people to fill the cubicles, So after they have me in the system, I call to see if they have anything in my area, no we have one on(120 mile drive away from me) No that won't work,
So they call me on the 5th for a 5:00 P.M. on the 10th, I asked what they paid and I said "Oh I can't do that, I need $XXX.00" They said well we would have to get back with you on approval for that, I said well then book it for your rate I'll take it, Then it starts all over again, They send me a confirmation and it has a log in name that is nothing like what I requested it to be, I try varios versions of it and no luck, I try several different web sites and no luck I send them an emsil asking if the informstion for my log in is correct? No it is this, they send me a different log in, that didn't work, Then I see the fax back requirements for the little amout of money, I finally sent them an email, No I can't get in and I'm not going to be able to do this signing, I am not getting the information I need to do this and with the fax back requirements, I'm out! So I receive an email all in CAPS YOU ARE NO LONGER ASSIGNED TO THIS SIGNING WE WILL CONTACT YOU FOR THE NEXT SIGNING IN YOUR AREA, I hope not! Did I do the right thing here?

Reply by Lee/AR on 12/9/12 12:16am
Msg #445948

Yes, you absolutely did do the right thing--you turned back a job that was not profitable for you. Fear not, they'll call you again. Just be sure it's profitable and be very firm about your fee. Wouldn't hurt to check Signing Central every time and be sure to read the comments.

Reply by Roger_OH on 12/9/12 12:46am
Msg #445950

Run from companies like these. The other thing to remember is not to ask a company how much they pay, but tell them how much YOU charge for the specifics of that assignment.

Reply by Frank/NC on 12/9/12 7:57am
Msg #445953

Remember that whether you are new to this industry or have years of experience, you still have something valuable to offer. Of course in the beginning, you want to get some experience, however, you still want to make a profit and never want any of those low ball companies taking advantage. The lowballers prey on people who are unsure of themselves or for whatever reason, don't understand the profit motive of being in business.
Yes, you did the right thing but have one more thing to do even though you are in the "learning mode" and that is to put the low ball companies calls directly into voice mail on your phone and avoid even having to get them to aggravate you. It takes a long time to fall in the groove of knowing who to work for and who not to work for. Check every company that calls you on this site even after you accept a good paying assignment. If they have a poor reputation, dont hesitate to call them back and refuse the job as well as tell them why. If they have no problem in not paying their bills or offering meager fees, you have no problem telling them why you won't work for them. Next thing is to place that company on your "ignore call" or "send to voice mail" on your phone.

Reply by bsylade on 12/10/12 3:30pm
Msg #446041

I had a call from nd today I gave my fee and he said to he needed get approved and get back to me. I received a call from another company for same area with a time range sop accepted. got a a call back from nd accepting my fee. Then a call from other company canceling for a name. The the order comes from nd for the same name. I did not know for same person. The other company made an offer of more than my min. probably refused nd since it was for same party which I did not know.

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 12/9/12 12:01pm
Msg #445957

This is so important... YOU are not an employee. You run your own business. Never, ever ask these companies what they pay. IT doesn't matter. You have to set your rates based on your individual business expenses and profit margin needs. The company will either meet your fee or they won't. They are the customer.... not you. Once in a while, for good companies, fees are up to negotiation... but ND isn't one of them, IMO. Don't let them scare you in to taking low fees just so you can get work.... you'll lose money. The idea that any work is better than no work is a bit of a fallacy -- and if you work for low rates without the appropriate profit margin or even to the point that you're losing money, it will come back to haunt you. If you don't think you're losing money, you need to sit back and really do the math. You can't just figure the cost of gas and paper is all that's involved.

I've known a lot of notaries in my area who brag that they're taking all my business from me because they're willing to take jobs for under $100 and drive 40+ miles each way to my area to take the jobs I refuse. I'm completely fine with that... because you know how many of them are still around "taking" my work 6 months later? NONE. I'm constantly hearing from companies that same thing, "Well, we had somebody a few months ago but they aren't doing loan work anymore." Gee, I wonder why?

Or, even better... I get the calls asking me to clean up a mess that one of those cheaper notaries made.

I don't do a heavy volume of loan work, and I'm fine with that. I can't, given the rural nature of where I live... most of what I do lately is general notary work (GNW).

I found out recently that our local credit union no longer had a notary on staff... their corporate office had to arrange to have me go in and meet with a couple for a signing. It's amazing to me how many notaries in my area are dropping like flies. It's keeping me busy, though, so I'm thankful for that. My newest CA commission started less than 2 weeks ago and I've already made enough to cover all of the expenses and then some... and for those of us in CA, you know what a hefty price tag that is... and that includes the day I had to travel 3 hours each way and stay overnight for my exam. So, stick to your guns...it's YOUR business. YOU make your fees based on your individual circumstances -- and those circumstances will be different for all of us, including other notaries in your immediate area.

As far as turning the work back to ND? Yeah... You did the right thing. In fact, heed the warnings of others and just stay away from them. You'll be saving yourself a lot of grief.